The moment I heard the news I was livid. An arranged marriage? Not that I was surprised, but now? The average date in my village was about 15 anyways, so technically I am overdue by a year. I ran home, my bare feet getting muddier as I ran, and mud flecked on the beck of my calves. Once I got home, I ran in, and I slammed the door, some plaster falling from the ceiling.

"Why did no one tell me?" I bellowed, not caring that everyone thought yelling was un-lady like. My mother sent me a cold look, and turning back to the pots the were simmering, she said, after brushing off some plaster that sprinkled on to her,

"He's a very nice boy you know. About 17 years old, like you."

"I am 16, mother."

"Yes, I know." I sighed. After having five children I guess you start to forget how old the individuals are. She doesn't even know how old she is; although she tells everyone that she is 30. She's been saying that since she's had me.

I sighed again, and went to my room, that was also shared by my older and younger sister. My older sister, Katerine, was already married, but her husband was away on a merchant trip, and she was going to stay with us until then, but my younger sister, Galatea, had no intentions of getting married. I told her again and again that she would be branded, and no one would want her anyways, if she married too old, but she laughed at me, and would walk away.

Katerine was sitting on her bed, folding sheets and her clothes.

"Katerine? Are you leaving soon?" I asked, both hopefully and also sad. I talked to her about everything; from important news to trifle things, and soon she was going to the next village, and I would see her very rarely. She turned to me sadly.

"Yes, I will. But we will see each other. It's not like I am going so far away." She shrugged sadly, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"But Viktor..."

"Viktor is not a bad person just because he has a butchery." She said, a glimmer of amusement entering her eyes.

"I never said he was a bad person Katerine. He was just odd...and isn't he a bit old?"

"22 is not old Falya. He is only five years older than me, it is hardly a difference."

I shrugged. To me five years apart was a world of differences.

"Well then Katy, I'll leave you to packing."

"Where are you going? Surely Maman wants you at home to help."

"I do not feel like helping today. And plus, it is not even dark yet, maybe I can fetch water."

"From the river that is less than 30 feet away from our house?"

"Yes. You never know when we may need water." I said, a smile playing on my lips. She loved to tease me about little quirks I had; I always needed water near me. I ran out, and she acknowledged my leaving with a nod. I liked the feel of the wind through my hair, but alas, the feeling was over in a few seconds, seeing as the river was right in back of their house. I grabbed one of the jars that were always by the water, brushed off the dirt, and drew water into it. I sloshed a little water around, but spilled most of it back into the water. I drew some more in, and walked quickly back to the house.

"Maman! Please...five more minutes...just five more..." and I fell back asleep. I couldn't stay awake, because I kept waking up last night from a recurring dream. In the dream it was my wedding day, and I was getting married. But this is the part that kept changing. I was either getting married to a handsome young man, who somehow seems oh so very boring and dull, or I was getting married to a hideous boy, but who was entertaining and funny. I preyed to god that it was neither, when I woke up.

But my mother shook me, and grumbling, I rose from the bed, shivering from the cold. I got used to it, but it was the kind of cold that persists, even in the summer, when the blanket no longer touches your body and you shiver. I looked around, and my eyes widening I took in the appearance of the room. It looked emptier, as if there was something missing, and I couldn't put my finger on it. I rubbed my eyes, and I turned around, noticing that Galatea was making her bed, and next to her Katerine's bed was already made. Then unwanted tears sprung in my eyes.

She could not have left already! My head screamed at me. I knew that she wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, but in my heart I knew it was so. She had gone without saying goodbye. I sat at the edge of my bed and sighed; I would not cry. Furiously, I wiped the tears from my eyes and splashed water on my face. But it was then, after I washed the tears away, that they came back with full force. I had washed my face with water I had gotten last night, and it was water that Katerine has scorned, and laughed at.

I started to laugh. Grinning madly, I picked up the water jug and with a burst of energy, I threw it to the ground, yelling the cursed name of Viktor. The water splashed, and the shards of the ceramic jug flew everywhere; one even cutting my cheek, but I did not feel the pain. I tasted the blood that now streamed down my face, and Galatea screamed and called for mother. I continued to yell, now adding profanities, causing Galatea to gasp from the doorway.

"Maman! She has gone mad!" I heard scrambling from down the hall. Galatea stood in the doorway, keeping her brown eyes on me, while I continued to yell Viktor's name, and occasionally she looked down the hall for a sign of mother.

My yells subdued, but only by a little. You could probably hear me a few houses down, and I suppose that was true, because by the window there was a gathering of those nosy mothers from down the street. I carelessly wiped some blood off of my cheek, and had now switched to screaming Katerine's name.

"Falya! Falya, stop!" my mother yelled, running over, still in her nightgown. I laughed at her expense. She walked over and slapped me so hard, I thought that all light had disappeared from the earth, and I fell, my cheek still bleeding a small stream by my bed.